Travel suggestions for 2026 spotlight Cottbus in the "Marco Polo" trendbook
The "Marco Polo Trend Guide 2026" has unveiled a list of 40 global destinations and activities that are largely undiscovered or offer fresh perspectives, with sustainability and events being key factors. This guide, compiled by a team of experts, aims to highlight places that are off the beaten path or provide a new twist on familiar destinations.
One such hidden gem is the Zittau Mountains Nature Park, which straddles the borders of Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland. This mini-mountain range in the southeasternmost corner of Saxony is promoted as an enchanted fairy-tale landscape. The Zittau Mountains offer breathtaking panoramic views and a cultural landscape to explore without long wait times. A steam railway runs daily between Zittau and Oybin, adding to the charm of this undiscovered destination.
Another undiscovered gem is the Schlei in Schleswig-Holstein. This picturesque destination, particularly appealing to weary city dwellers, is improved in terms of mobility by the "Smile24" model project. The Schlei offers small manor houses, thatched-roof houses, and beaches, making it an ideal spot for a relaxing getaway.
The "Marco Polo Trend Guide 2026" also recommends the cities of Cottbus, Regensburg, Salzburg, and Basel as travel destinations for 2026. In Cottbus, a maritime-style city quarter around the artificially created lake offers beaches, mooring places for boats, and cycling and jogging trails. The Baltic Sea in Cottbus was formed by flooding a former open-pit mine with Spreewater.
Ulm, known for its minster, which still has the highest church tower in the world, is also a "hotspot for bright minds" with a strong research landscape and good conditions for start-ups.
The Bergstraße-Odenwald geopark, spanning several German states, allows visitors to experience 500 million years of Earth's history in a small space. Meanwhile, the Kyffhäuser geopark in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt features steep gypsum cliffs, salt springs, karst springs, and deep caves like the Barbarossa cave.
The trend selection for the "Marco Polo" Trend Guide 2026 was made by the editorial team and a jury, which included futurologist Anja Kirig, travel guide author Jens Bey, editor Jan Düker, tourism consultant Martin Petrich, Professor Harald Zeiss (Harz University of Applied Sciences in Wernigerode; expert in sustainable tourism), and MairDumont publisher Stephanie Mair-Huydts.
The guide also promotes destinations like the High Tatras (Slovakia), the Faroe Islands (Denmark), and the Wicklow Mountains (Ireland) as coolcation spots, or corners of Europe that don't heat up as much during the summer due to climate change.
Set-jetting, or fans wanting to see filming locations, is another trend. Destinations like the film village of Ellmau at the Wilden Kaiser in Tyrol or at Moritzburg Castle near Dresden are highlighted.
Lastly, the UBS Digital Art Museum, Europe's largest exhibition space for digital and immersive art, will open in the Hamburg HafenCity in 2026. This museum is set to be a major attraction, adding to the cultural landscape of Hamburg.
The "Marco Polo Trend Guide 2026" offers a wealth of information for those seeking unique and sustainable travel experiences. Whether you're looking for a relaxing getaway, a cultural exploration, or an adventure off the beaten path, this guide has something for everyone.
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